Commence the Endgame
~$0.26 low · ~$1.86 high
Blue. Instant
Aetherdrift Commander #38 · Illustrated by Helge C. Balzer
Aetherdrift Commander #38 · Illustrated by Helge C. BalzerWhat is Commence the Endgame worth?
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
This spell can't be countered.
Draw two cards, then amass Zombies X, where X is the number of cards in your hand. (Put X +1/+1 counters on an Army you control. It's also a Zombie. If you don't control an Army, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token first.)
"Even gods shall kneel." —Nicol Bolas
Format legality
All 4 printings of Commence the Endgame
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Aetherdrift Commander drc #38· 2025rare· Cardmarket €0.18 | rare | $0.26 | No foil printing | €0.18 | |
 War of the Spark Promos pwar #45p· 2019Promorare· Cardmarket €0.47 · €0.88 foil | rare | $1.08 | $1.86 | €0.47€0.88 foil | |
 War of the Spark Promos pwar #45s· 2019Promorare· Cardmarket €0.58 foil | rare | No non-foil printing | $0.83 | €0.58 foil | |
 War of the Spark war #45· 2019rare· Cardmarket €0.17 · €0.50 foil | rare | $0.36 | $0.69 | €0.17€0.50 foil |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Commence the Endgame
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Card details
- First printed
- 2019
- Printings
- 4
- Mana value
- 6
- EDHREC rank
- #8,433 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Keywords
- Amass
- Artists
- Helge C. Balzer, Noah Bradley
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Aetherdrift Commander card (#38).
0038 · DRC · R · EN
- 0038Collector number: this card's place in the set list.
- DRCSet code for Aetherdrift Commander
- RRare
- ENPrinted in English
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Card breakdown
The parts of Commence the Endgame, read from the Aetherdrift Commander printing. Tap a label to highlight its line. How to read any Magic card.
The info line, magnified
Swipe to see the whole line.
Also on this card
- Flavor text
- Italic story text below the rules. It has no effect on the game, and it can differ between printings.
Keywords
- AmassCR 701.47
- Put +1/+1 counters on your Army, creating a 0/0 Army token first if you have none.
Rule numbers from the Magic Comprehensive Rules, version of September 25, 2026.
Rulings (8)
2019-05-03
A spell or ability that counters spells can still target Commence the Endgame. When that spell or ability resolves, Commence the Endgame won't be countered, but any additional effects of that spell or ability will still happen.
2019-05-03
You draw two cards and amass X all while Commence the Endgame is resolving. Nothing can happen between the two, and no player may choose to take actions.
2023-06-16
To amass Zombies N, if you don't control an Army creature, create a 0/0 black Zombie Army creature token. Then you choose an Army creature you control and put N +1/+1 counters on it. If that Army isn't already a Zombie, it becomes a Zombie in addition to its other types.
2023-06-16
Amass Orcs works the same way, except you create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token if you don't control an Army. If the Army creature you chose isn't already an Orc, it becomes an Orc in addition to its other types. By combining cards with amass Orcs and amass Zombies, you can end up with an Orc Zombie Army.
2023-06-16
Amass abilities are now written as "amass [subtype] N." Previous cards with amass have received errata to say "amass Zombies N."
2023-06-16
If you don't control an Army, the Zombie Army token you create enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature before receiving counters. Any abilities that trigger when a creature with a certain power enters the battlefield, such as that of Mentor of the Meek, will see the token enter as a 0/0 creature before it gets +1/+1 counters.
2023-06-16
Some cards refer to the "amassed Army." That means the Army creature you chose to receive counters, even if no counters were placed on it for some reason.
2023-06-16
In the rare case that you control multiple Army creatures (perhaps because you played a creature with changeling) while you amass Zombies, you choose which of your Army creatures to put the +1/+1 counters on. If that creature isn't a Zombie, it becomes a Zombie in addition to its other types.
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